This beautiful 33rd Degree Dish was made by the
famous Rookwood Pottery Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio and is dated 1956 on the back. It
bears the 33rd Degree emblem with the Crowned Double Headed Eagle and 33rd Breastplate
with the motto, "DEUS MEUMQUE JUS" Latin, meaning God and my right. It
is a Latin translation of the royal arms of England, which is the French expression Dieu
et mon droit, and concerning which we have the following tradition: Richard
Coeur de Leon, besieging Gisors, in Normandy, in 1198, gave, as a parole or watch-word, Dieu
et mon droit, because Philip Augustus, King of France, had, without right, taken
that city, which then belonged to England. Richard, having been victorious with
that righteous parole, hence adopted it as his motto; and it was afterward marshaled in
the arms of England. This dish measures 6 inches in diameter.

A special
"Thanks" to Illustrious Brother David Heasley, a 33rd Degree Mason in
the Valley of Akron, Ohio for permission to display the pictures of this
wonderful Rookwood piece. Bro. Dave is a Masonic collector and has
accumulated several 33rd Degree items over the years. He trades on eBay
under the User Id: "davey-h777"